A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge in Hollywood ordered a man accused of killing one of the turtles at the Valencia mall to undergo one year of psychotropic medication, in response to his plea and medical reports.
The attorney for Adam Michael Buckley filed a motion stating his client was not mentally fit to stand trial, which prompted a suspension of criminal proceedings and a medical review ordered by Judge Maria Cavalluzzi in the Hollywood Courthouse, which handles proceedings involving mental health issues.
Cavalluzzi made several findings on the record during Buckley’s Jan. 2 hearing.
“The court finds that the defendant is not presently mentally competent to stand trial within the meaning of Penal Code section 1368 and that they are not able to understand the nature of the proceedings taken against them and are not able to assist counsel in the conduct of a defense in a rational manner,” according to the minute order for Department 103, which adjourned criminal proceedings against Buckley.
“The court finds that the defendant lacks the capacity to make decisions regarding psychotropic medication. If untreated with psychotropic medication, it is probable that the defendant will suffer serious harm to his physical or mental health,” according to the minute order, which also found it “medically appropriate to treat the defendant’s psychiatric condition with psychotropic medication,” which the medical report indicated likely to be effective.
The treatment facility is authorized to administer involuntary psychotropic medication, per the orders.
Buckley’s local history is an uncommon one, in part due to the rare instance in which he was mistakenly declared deceased by what was then known as the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office in 2018.
The embarrassing mistake prompted an apology from then-chief medical examiner-coroner, Dr. Jonathan R. Lucas, to Buckley’s family.
“Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has determined it incorrectly identified a body that was found burned beyond recognition in a remote area of Lancaster,” he said in the release. “We would like to publicly apologize to the family of the man who was misidentified as the decedent, and also express our regrets to the community we serve.”
Buckley was later reported as missing, with the Sheriff’s Department reporting in a September 2018 LASD Nixle alert that he had schizophrenia and was last seen leaving Twin Towers jail in Downtown Los Angeles.
Buckley was ordered to appear Jan. 29 at a placement hearing, which would determine his housing location under the court’s order.
